Samsung Messages is officially dead – here’s your deadline and what replaces it
The Samsung Messages app has been available on Galaxy smartphones since the debut of the Android-based Galaxy lineup. However, Samsung has now officially announced that it will discontinue its native messaging app in the coming weeks. Here’s how much time the app has left, and why I believe this is actually a good move for Samsung.
It’s finally official
Samsung posted an “end of service announcement” on its website last night. The notice reads that the Samsung Messages application will be discontinued in July 2026. That means there are roughly 12 weeks left before the app will be gone forever.
The notice further recommends switching to Google Messages to continue using the messaging service on your Galaxy smartphone. After the end date, Samsung Messages will likely be removed from both the Galaxy Store and the Google Play Store. You need to open the app on your device to find out the exact date when the service will stop working in your region.
How to switch to Google Messages
Switch to Google Messages from Samsung Messages. | Image by Samsung
Switching to the Google Messages app on your Galaxy device is pretty straightforward. To begin with, you first need to download the Google Messages app from the Google Play Store.
After that, open the app and tap the “Set default SMS app” button that appears on the home screen. Choose “Messages” from the pop-up window that appears, and then select the “Set as default” button.
That’s about it. Google Messages is now the default messaging app on your Samsung Galaxy smartphone. That said, there are a few key points mentioned in the end-of-service announcement that you need to be aware of.
The Samsung messaging app will continue to function on devices running Android 11 or lower. So, for instance, phones like the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy Note 9 will continue to have the app functioning even after July. While the exact reason behind this hasn’t been mentioned, I believe it’s because these old phones might not be compatible with the latest Google Messages app.
The signs were there
It’s not as if Samsung’s management woke up from a good night’s sleep and decided to discontinue their messaging app. The tech giant had been dropping hints about it from time to time.
It’s also not possible for the latest S-line smartphone users to download the Samsung Messages app from the Galaxy Store. All that said, it’s worth noting that the announcement states you will be able to use the app even after it is discontinued for emergency service numbers or emergency contacts that you have configured in your phone.
What actually made Samsung ditch its native messaging app for Google messages?
While the current announcement doesn’t reveal the reason behind this move, the South Korean giant has previously explained why it is adopting Google’s messaging solution. The short answer to this is RCS support.
As it turns out, Google’s messaging app offers all RCS features regardless of your carrier. The Samsung messaging app, on the other hand, depends on your mobile network. In addition, it provides plenty of advanced features that aren’t available in the Samsung app.
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